Elvis Presley’s recording of I Forgot to Remember to Forget was one of his early hits, recorded on July 11, 1955, at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers, the song was a country ballad that showcased Presley’s ability to blend country and rhythm & blues influences. It was released as a single in August 1955, with Mystery Train as the B-side.

The song became notable as Elvis’ first No. 1 hit on the Billboard country charts, reaching the top spot in early 1956 and remaining there for five weeks. This success marked a turning point in his career, helping to solidify his growing popularity and setting the stage for his transition to RCA Records later that year. The song’s melancholic lyrics about struggling to move on from a past love resonated with audiences, and its success contributed to the rise of Elvis as a major figure in both country and rock & roll music.

Since the Elvis recording it’s been recorded by countless others including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, John Prine, and many more.

My version is really easy to play, with 3 chords in the key of C. It’s a short song, and I strummed the first time through and then did it again demonstrating how you might want to pick it fingerstyle.